Packers QB Aaron Rodgers took aim at the NFL for the replacement referee debacle that ended Green Bay’s loss in Seattle.
“Some stuff just needs to be said,” Rodgers said on his radio program, according to ProFootballTalk.com.
“First of all, I’ve got to do something that the NFL is not going to do, and I have to apologize to the fans. Our sport is generated, a multi-billion dollar machine, by people who pay good money to come watch us play. And the product on the field is not being complemented by an appropriate set of officials. The games are getting out of control. Like I said in the first week, I’m OK with replacement refs as long as they don’t have a direct impact on the game.”
The replacements had been a problem throughout the early season, but were particularly terrible in the Monday night game. And that was before the ending, which saw Seahawks receiver Golden Tate get credited for the game-winning touchdown on the final play that gave Seattle a 14-12 even though Packers safety M.D. Jennings appeared to have sole possession of the football.
“Obviously last night there was a direct impact on the game on multiple plays. But my thing is I just feel bad for the fans. They pay good money to watch this. The game is being tarnished by an NFL that obviously cares more about saving some money than having the integrity of the game diminished,” Rodgers said.